Notre Aventure Française, 2013: 22nd October, Séguret

The closest village to Sablet, just 3 kms away, is Séguret, another member of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France". It is a walled town with entrance portals at either end and dates back to the 10th Century.

Its name comes from the Latin word securitas meaning "secure" and it is believed the village was patrolled 24/7 in the Middle Ages - they never took their securitas for granted. The village includes an elaborate exit passage network system called poternes which were needed in peace times to allow the village to expand below and outside the walls.

The town now though is home to a host of art activities and outlets including studios producing and selling Santons.
Santons (little saint) are small (2.5–15 cm) hand-painted terracotta nativity scene figurines produced throughout Provence. In a traditional Provençal crèche, there are 55 individual figures representing various characters from Provençal village life such as the scissors grinder, the fishwife, the blind man, and the chestnut seller. Séguret transforms itself into one big crèche scene from mid November through to Christmas. This Provençal tradition has largely died out in other villages.

Séguret vignerons are part of the "Côtes du Rhône Villages Appellation d'Origine Protégée", which is made up of some of the village wine producers around the region who produce high quality wine. In fact tonight Ann and I shared a 2010 "Messire de Very" a red wine from Séguret which was given to us by our neighbours in St Alban de Varese.